The Combativity Classification was introduced to award the most combative rider(s). There is no jersey to mark the leader in this classification. However, several years ago, a new way to mark the leader in this classification was introduced: he wears a white-on-red number on the back of his shirt, while all other riders wear black-on-white ones. This method is still being used.

Most Combative Riders 1953-2011

1953  Wout Wagtmans (Ned)

1954  Lucien Lazarides (Fra) &

Franηois Mahι (Fra) ex aequo

1955  Charly Gaul (Lux)

1956  Andrι Darrigade (Fra)

1957  Nicolas Barone (Fra)

1958  Andrι Darrigade (Fra)

1959  Gιrard Saint (Fra)

1960  Jean Graczyk (Fra)

1961  Ouest-sud-ouest (Fra) (team award)

1962  Eddy Pauwels (Bel)

1963  Rik Van Looy (Bel)

1964  Henri Anglade (Fra)

1965  Felice Gimondi (Ita)

1966  Rudi Altig (FRG)

1967  Dιsirι Letort (Fra)

1968  Roger Pingeon (Fra)

1969  Eddy Merckx (Bel)

1970  Eddy Merckx (Bel)

1971  Luis Ocaρa (Esp)

1972  Cyrille Guimard (Fra)

1973  Luis Ocaρa (Esp)

1974  Eddy Merckx (Bel)

1975  Eddy Merckx (Bel)

1976  Raymond Delisle (Fra)

1977  Gerrie Knetemann (Ned)

1978  Paul Wellens (Bel)

1979  Hennie Kuiper (Ned) *

1980  Christian Levavasseur (Fra)

1981  Bernard Hinault (Fra)

1982  Rιgis Clθre (Fra)

1983  Serge Demierre (Sui)

1984  Bernard Hinault (Fra)

1985  Maarten Ducrot (Ned)

1986  Bernard Hinault (Fra)

1987  Pedro Delgado (Esp)

Calculation 2012

Every day, a jury appoints one rider as the most combative one. On the final day, this jury announces the most combative rider of the entire Tour. This rider must have finished the Tour to be eligible for this title.

Before 2003, the jury awarded points for the most combative rider(s) and the daily points were accumulated into the General Combativity Classification.

The Red Jersey once marked the leader in the Intermediate Sprints Classification, which was first calculated in 1971, when Belgian Pieter Nassen won this competitions. The life of the Red Jersey itself was short: 1984-1989.

The first rider to receive a Red Jersey was Belgian Ludo Peeters. Because he was the keeper of the Yellow Jersey as well after the first stage of the 1984 Tour, number two Jacques Hanegraaf from the Netherlands wore the Red Jersey the next day. Hanegraaf later brought the jersey to Paris. See also Green Jersey.

Winners 1971-1989

1971  Pieter Nassen (Bel)

1972  Willy Teirlinck (Bel)

1973  Marc Demeyer (Bel)

1974  Barry Hoban (GBr)

1975  Marc Demeyer (Bel)

1976  Robert Mintkiewicz (Fra)

1977  Pierre Villemaine (Fra)

1978  Jacques Bossis (Fra)

1979  Willy Teirlinck (Bel)

Intermediate Sprints Classification

1980  Rudy Pevenage (Bel)

1981  Freddy Maertens (Bel)

1982  Sean Kelly (Irl)

1983  Sean Kelly (Irl)

1984  Jacques Hanegraaf (Ned)

1985  Jef Lieckens (Bel)

1986  Gerrit Solleveld (Ned)

1987  Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (Fra)

1988  Frans Maassen (Ned)

1989  Sean Kelly (Irl)

1988  Jιrτme Simon (Fra)

1989  Laurent Fignon (Fra)

1990  Eduardo Chozas (Esp)

1991  Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)

1992  Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)

1993  Massimo Ghirotto (Ita)

1994  Eros Poli (Ita)

1995  Hernαn Buenahora (Col)

1996  Richard Virenque (Fra)

1997  Richard Virenque (Fra)

1998  Jacky Durand (Fra)

1999  Jacky Durand (Fra)

2000  Erik Dekker (Ned)

2001  Laurent Jalabert (Fra)

2002  Laurent Jalabert (Fra)

2003  Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)

2004  Richard Virenque (Fra)

2005  Oscar Pereiro (Esp)

2006  David De la Fuente (Esp)

2007  Amets Txurruka (Esp)

2008  Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)

2009  **

2010  Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)

2011  Jιrιmy Roy (Fra)

2012 

* Joop Zoetemelk (Ned) was declassified

** Franco Pellizotti (Ita) was disqualified because of blood value irregularities, no new winner was appointed